Beyond the Empire and within, the threat of war looms. The Blood Shrike, Helene Aquilla, is assailed on all sides. Emperor Marcus grows unstable. The Commandant capitalizes on his madness to bolster her power. As Helene tries to hold back the darkness, her sister's life and the lives of those in the Empire hang in the balance. The anticipated third book in Sabaa Tahir's bestselling "Ember Quartet".